The CARES Act extended the list of Health Care FSA qualified expenses to include additional over-the-counter medications and products.

On April 3, 2020, MIT Benefits communicated the extension of the 2019 reimbursement window for health care and dependent care FSA claims from April 30, 2020 to May 31, 2020. Due to new regulations, that reimbursement window has now been extended to 60 days after the end of the federal government’s declaration of a national pandemic or another time period as designated by the IRS. As of now, no end date for the national pandemic has been declared.

For the 2020 plan year and future plan years, the carryover amount for the health care FSA is $550 (the carryover for the 2019 plan year is $500).

Recent regulations allow employees to revoke an election, make a new election, or decrease or increase an existing health care or dependent care FSA election on a prospective basis only. Employees cannot reduce their election to less than what has already been contributed and/or has been reimbursed. For example, if during open enrollment, you made an annual health care FSA election of $2,000 and as of 06/01/2020 you have contributed $900 and have been reimbursed $1,300. You cannot reduce your health care FSA election to less than $1,300.

To reduce or cancel your health care or dependent care FSA, you must complete and submit the 2020 FSA Change Form to MIT Benefits.

Learn more about flexible spending accounts.

Benefits-eligible employees enrolled in one of the MIT medical plans have access to licensed doctors and providers for minor medical and behavioral health care services with $0 copays, using live video visits on your smartphone, tablet, or computer with a webcam. You and your family members can visit doctors and providers anytime, anywhere in the United States, at home, work, or on vacation – weekends and holidays included

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Well Connection telehealth video visits are secure. Board-certified physicians and licensed clinicians are required to provide patients with private, secure, HIPAA-compliant, and confidential online visits. Visit Well Connection for more information and to see if your physician is a telehealth provider.

High deductible health plans

The CARES Act, put into law on March 27, 2020, amends the rules applicable to high deductible health plans (HDHPs) for plan years beginning on or before December 31, 2021 to allow HDHPs to cover telehealth and other remote care services before the applicable deductible is met. Out-of-network telehealth and other remote care services will be subject to the standard cost share per plan guidelines.

The MIT Traditional and Choice Plans will temporarily cover behavioral health out-of-network virtual visits, regardless of how the visit is conducted (telephonic or telehealth). For both plans, if the out-of-network telehealth visits are for Covid-19 related treatment, the cost-share will be waived. The plans will offer the following reimbursement:

• The MIT Traditional Plan will reimburse up to $60 per visit (the remaining cost is the responsibility of the member), in alliance with current out-of-network office visits.
• The MIT Choice Plan will reimburse the cost per visit after the member’s deductible ($500 individual/$1,000 family) has been met and the 25% coinsurance has been paid for the visit.

The MIT Health Plans continue to cover behavioral health office visits (both in and out of network) as outlined in the current plan documents.

Blue Cross made a decision to allow all members access to telehealth services. Effective March 16, 2020, all members are covered for visits with in-network providers via telehealth temporarily with a $0 copay. This includes office visits offered over the telephone.

The easiest way to ensure that your telehealth visit is covered is by calling BCBS Member Services at 1-800-882-1093. The member services team can look up providers and determine if they are in the BCBS network based upon the plan you are enrolled in.

Members can reach a registered nurse 24/7 by calling 1-888-247-Blue (2583). This service is free to all members and offers a safe and convenient clinical resource.

The $5,250 calendar year maximum reimbursement amount under the Tuition Assistance Plan remains the same. Please continue to submit your tuition reimbursement requests as you normally do. Keep in mind that the reimbursement submission deadline is now 90 days from the end date of a course.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) introduces temporary relief provisions related to retirement plans. MIT 401(k) Plan participants have more freedom to access funds during the current economic crisis without tax penalties. View the full details on the HR website.